DISCLAIMER: Donna and I did this interview in March. I’m not going to use the pandemic as an excuse for the delay in sharing this interview, but I wanted to make sure it was perfect. I hope you enjoy getting to know more about Donna and I thank her for the patience.
A few months ago I got the chance to interview Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot. Mike started singing Billy Joel songs in high school. Now he’s traveling the world with his band singing Billy Joel cover songs. After sharing the interview I connected with Donna Gabusi. She is a fan but also an artist. She sent me a few samples of her work and I wanted to learn more about her. I asked if she’d be interested in an interview. I enjoyed getting the chance to interview Mike, and glad that interview led me to this discussion with Donna.
Below you will see some of her work. I love her style and I’d be curious to know what some of your favorites are. Donna, this has been a long time coming, but glad I was able to share your story with my readers at home. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the talented Donna Gabusi.
My interview with Mike DelGuidice is how we met. Tell me more about that.
I am a fan of the Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot Billy Joel tribute band and also a fan/follower of their official Facebook Page. I saw your great interview with Mike so I went to your website and noticed that you interview artists. I decided to contact you. Artists always need extra promotion/publicity.
I am glad you did! Where are you originally from?
I was born in Smithtown, New York. That’s on Long Island. I still live there. People always ask me, “Do you have your own studio? Where do you paint?” Nope, no studio, just a corner of my room – a 3′ x 4′ space on the floor.
What sort of art are you creating?
I paint landscapes – puddles, reflections, the nooks and crannies that people pass by every day and don’t see. (Mostly of Long Island) with acrylic paint.
The pet portraits I paint on acid free fabric covered matboard – it gives texture and dimension to the piece.
I draw black and white faces with pencil. Lately I’ve been experimenting with old/young faces – merging past/present; old/young. It shows the journey, a story of the face. The Mike DelGuidice portrait was one of my first “merged” ideas.
What does being an artist mean to you?
That’s a hard question, nobody has asked me that. What it means to me? What it means to other people – it’s personal, it means something to them. They get so emotional. They like the personal connection.
I am creating something personal for a stranger. They gave me permission, they trust me, they give me money, they like my work enough to say… Yes! I want this!
I will carry their compliments, their inspirations, and their influence forever. They definitely influenced my life. I just have a hand that draws lines and shapes, it’s the fans/customers that make the art powerful.
You’ve been doing this for 20+ years. How has your style changed over the years?
I’ve gotten a lot better! Different ideas – merge, or just do one area in color.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
I’m influenced by names like Vincent van Gogh, Willem de Kooning, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet and Käthe Kollwitz. I am also influenced by my fans/customers/muses – they inspire/influence me so much! Their compliments – “Overwhelmed, dumbfounded,” “Unique,” “Better than I expected it.”
What is your favorite color?
Colors found in nature – green, orange. I love the colors of autumn – I was born on Halloween!
I’ve been to museums like The Louvre in Paris, France and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. What are some of your favorite museums to visit?
Wow! You get around, someday I’ll get to those… I like MoMA and the Nassau County Museum of Art.
Where do you find inspiration for a new piece?
Where – Long Island – puddles, reflections, the nooks and crannies that people pass by every day and don’t see.
And who – The definitely unexpected compliments of my fans/customers/muses! They want another piece!
Of all the pieces you’ve created over the years, what are some of your favorites?
Definitely my recent experimental ones – the merged faces – they show a journey.
And the black and white with just one area in color.
Do you ever make a mistake when creating a piece of art? If so, do you just toss it or do you find a way to make it work?
A happy accident! A new way of looking at the piece, “Oh, that can work,” instead… I always feel it looks terrible at the beginning… But then it takes work… And more work…
A lot of your work is in black and white. Why is that? I like the red lips on your Marilyn Monroe piece.
I love black and white – it’s simple, to the point. Highlights the important elements. Gives it some punch.
When you draw Donald Trump, Bill Cosby or Whoopi Goldberg, do you need permission to draw them? What are you sell that piece? I’m curious how that works legally.
I find their photos on social media. If their people find out, and tell me to not draw their image, then I won’t – but so far – they’ve been thrilled, or no answer at all. I decide to draw their faces first – I don’t think about if I can sell it, or meet these people.
I just like the faces – They are not boring faces rather interesting faces, expressive. Pretty faces are too perfect, too bland.
If someone wants to buy it, fine. I always try to send it to the actual person first – it has worked sometimes.
I only sell the original. The owner of the face has never said anything about image infringement. They are usually so happy with the drawing. I draw the face because it is interesting, not because maybe I can meet them.
I do not seek them out, they come to me. The “Bronx Tale” actor Chazz Palminteri loved it – “I love it because it looks real, I don’t like the caricatures.”
I recently discovered that I am related to a saint. – Blessed Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich. I decided to draw her portrait. I am researching about her and my family tree. Her church decided to include my portrait in their Relic Room & History Wall with Teresa’s relics. Sister Teresa is one of the few nuns born in the United States that is up for sainthood. I recently discovered that she is my grandmother’s cousin.
I knew there were some Billy Joel covers band performing around Long Island… But I knew there was one good one. A guy with an Italian name Mike DelGuidice… It’s funny, I only discovered this band 3 years ago. I made a portrait of Billy Joel already and wanted to do another. but incorporate Mike’s face. Mike Delguidice loved it! He said, “Overwhelmed. Gorgeous. Dumbfounded.” I met him a few times. He has bought a few more pieces from me after that first one.
I decided to draw the comedian Jackie Mason; he has an interesting face. I decided to bring my portrait to the local theater where he was performing. I ended up having dinner with him! “You like my face? You think my face is interesting?”
I also decided to draw the interesting face of Trump and mail it to the White House. He sent me a thank you.
You’ve displayed your work in art galleries, cafes and coffee shops. How often is your work on display and how are you arranging those exhibitions?
Cold calling sometimes. Usually just a month. No one else can promote you, I always keep my eyes open for opportunities. Like your blog!
You have to let people know you exist! I always have my business cards on me.
Going off subject a little here, but it reminds me… Part of the Walt Whitman poem “Oh Me! Oh Life!”
“…That you are here — that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”
Do you sell your work or is it just on display for our viewing pleasure? If you sell your work, how do you know what to charge?
When people see my work, it gets their wheels turning in their heads… Hmm…. And they ask me… could you do something…I have an idea…
I sell my work, I’ve done many commissioned work for their special occasions/holidays – Christmas, birthdays. I’ve read many books about how to market your art, demographics, subject matter, size, labor, detail. Some people think it’s too much money, or they think it’s too little. When I die, they can sell it for millions! (Laughs.)
When you are creating a new piece of work, do you listen to music or just the songs in your head? You don’t want to know what goes on in my head! (Laughs.)
I listen to my iPod – Billy Joel, Louis Prima, Eddie Vedder, CSNY, Simon & Garfunkel, Coldplay, Cat Stevens, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Alexi Murdoch, instrumentals, oldies. I also take notes – What do I put down first? What is important?
Another thought:
When I start a new drawing with pencil, I put the reference photo upside down, and draw the preliminary lines and shapes upside down – drawing from the right side of your brain. It forces your brain to slow down and see the face as shapes. When you see the image right side up, it’s too busy, you don’t know what to look at first.
What’s next for Donna Gabusi?
Past events/projects:
My portrait of Blessed Sister Teresa Miriam Demjanovich has been accepted for permanent display at the College of Saint Elizabeth’s history wall.
(The Southampton, N.Y. based magazine) Dan’ Papers cover artist (2018)
Upcoming, I submitted horse paintings to The Hampton Classic horse show in Bridgehampton, NY. They only choose one artist’s work each year to use for their publicity, posters, etc.
I submitted my work for the yearly Malverne, NY Town Art Walk. They choose just a handful of artists to display their work in the town’s store windows – library, town hall, stores, etc.
Ongoing, I have rotating pieces for sale at Barnes Gallery in Garden City, NY.
Thank you for doing this. Really enjoyed getting to know you. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
More than just one word! Always thinking! Always new ideas. I am always grateful to my fans! Thank you for accepting me in your world!
There are some artists on Long Island I feel don’t get enough publicity/exposure. Some people see artists “Oh, so, what else do you do?” Not a real job… Or so many scams, take advantage… Or I can buy something for $20 in a big box store. Or my kid can do that…
People ask me, “Anyone in your family an artist?” No, I remember my father years ago doodling simple things.
I never get bored, each new project is a different challenge. The hardest subject? – Water, skies, faces. Those are also my favorite subjects. The hardest part of the process? – Starting! And finishing! What do I exaggerate? Leave out?
I asked a friend if you are jealous/competitive of other (people in your career). “No… Never… If you are jealous/competitive of others, you should just pack it in. It’s a suicide mission for your own career/life. It’s the wrong thing to do… Doesn’t make sense to me. We all envy other people. It’s what you do with those thoughts…”
The only person you have to be competitive with is yourself.
Why are drawings/paintings so powerful? Why do they make fans so emotional? They are just lines and shapes.
About Donna Gabusi:
A Smithtown, NY native, Donna Gabusi has been an artist about twenty years. She makes black and white face portraits with pencil. Her pet and house portraits and landscapes are painted with acrylic. Sometimes she paints on fabric covered mat board instead of canvas. Donna has exhibited at galleries, cafes, stores, and libraries throughout Long Island.
“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” – 1993 movie A Bronx Tale.
Normal is boring. I draw expressive faces, and/or wrinkled. I like painting broken fences, puddles, dirt, reflections – landscapes of Long Island mostly. Lately I’ve been experimenting with old/young faces. Merging past/present; old/young.
“Artists who are self-taught generally are more gifted than those with fancy degrees.” – actor/comedian Jonathan Winters
A lot of my skills and inspirations came from my high school art teacher and my elementary school art teacher. Other inspirations and influences are from Leonardo da Vinci, Monet, DeKooning, Picasso, Kathe Kollwitz.
Customers have said, “Overwhelmed,” “Unique,” “Better than I expected it.” Some of my customers include a rocker, a comedian, an actor, a church, a president of the United States.
Donna was the cover artist for Dan’s Papers (magazine based in Southampton, NY) on November 30th, 2018. I was also the cover artist for ACE Magazine (Greenlawn, NY) in August 2018, May 2019, September 2019.
Thank you Ricky! Great job of putting it together!